Well, I don't get big numbers - only 4, should have been 10-12, but much fun. Wanted to share some info and pictures.
My wife just had a total knee replacement, so I could not hunt the weekend, however, my wonderful daughter is on break from college (and is also an RN), so she covered for me this morning.
I chose a spot that is not one of my prime locations, but have had some run and gun success. I did a pre-dawn rather quick and dirty set up. Only 8-10 decoys, and my tall telescoping blind, barely brushed in with some branches, but you gotta' do what you can. I was set up on the tip of a hedgerow that "dead-ends" in a pasture, facing away from the sunrise with the South wind at my back. Finally, doing some things right! The key, however, was my decoy placement way up high. I used my golf ball retriever to put two up about 20 feet, but my fishing reel put one up there at least 40 feet. A little windy, but had early, yet cautious, interest.
After the initial opportunities, I was thinking it might be over, but switching over to some aggressive fighting calls brought in two separate waves of very upset crows - maybe 25-30 each. Swarms! Did get a double out of the deal, but was overwhelmed. Also got some good head-cam video.
Probably one of my best friendly calls was one that I recorded while deer hunting and edited. I call it "Far and Wide" because it had near crows and some distant crows talking back and forth.
Thanks Big H and Bacon. I have not tried the gut piles or fake deer carcass lately. I have too many gadgets to carry it all, but I might need to try next time out. It certainly can't hurt, but I'm not sure that fake guts will help like the real thing that crows have already found prior. I think that they are drawn more to the crow decoys themselves and focused on finding me than some possible new meal, but even a glimpse of red guts and fur might distract them long enough to make a mistake! The gut piles are so light I should throw them in my bag next time.
